1974 OctGeneral Election: Labour gain a slim majority of 3

This election followed only a few months after the February 1974 General Election, which had produced a hung parliament, no party having an absolute majority. Labour had been able to govern with Liberal support, but they called the second election to try to win an absolute majority. The outcome was a majority of 3, too small to govern effectively or to survive by-election losses, so the election result led to a more formal pact between the Labour and Liberal parties.